Travel to Cyprus

Archive for August, 2011

Recently there have been amendments in 3 statutes namely the (1) Town and Country Planning (N.90/72), (2) the Streets and Buildings Regulation (Chapter 96), and (3) the Immovable Property (Chapter 224) (Tenure, Registration and Valuation) Laws (hereinafter collectively called “the Planning Amnesty Amendments”).

The Planning Amnesty Amendments came into force on 8.4.2011. Their aim is to simplify the procedures regarding the legalization of irregularities and ultimately the issue of updated title deeds.

For the first time a purchaser (apart from the registered owner) has the right to activate necessary procedures for the legalization of the development or for the issuing of title deeds. Where the registered owner seems to be reluctant or unwilling to unwilling to apply for a certificate of approval or to legalize the building, the Authorities are empowered to impose considerable administrative fines. It is advisable that the statements of intent or planning applications are submitted jointly by as many co-owners as possible.

Therefore an owner and/or purchaser of immovable property unit with irregularities and no separate title deed may:

1. Apply directly for the issue of separate title deed, without prior legalization of the irregularities. This means that the title deed shall be subject to the said irregularities, if any, or

2. Apply for the legalization of the irregularities prior to the issue of title deed. With this way there will be no irregularities registered on the title deed.

A fixed three-year period, expiring on 7.4.2014, is defined, for the submission of applications making use of the Planning Amnesty Amendments. However if a purchaser wishes to legalize irregularities, he/she must submit a Statement of Intent the latest by 7.10.2011

Issue of Title Deed (without prior legalization)

The legality of the building is no longer a prerequisite for the issuing of an updated title deed. Thus title deeds can be issued, despite any building irregularities, provided that an application is submitted to the Building Authority, together with an accurate description of the building as well as any irregularities that may appear, in comparison to the building or the planning permit issued.

Following the said application the Building Authority shall issue:

1) a certificate of approval (in case the building was constructed in accordance with issued permits) or

2)   a noted certificate of approval (where the deviations shall be described)  or

3)  a certificate of unauthorized operations (in case of substantial irregularities in relation to the permit)

The Building Authority may issue a certificate of approval, even if a planning permit or a building permit has expired. The certificate of approval has the effect of a building permit.

The Building Authority shall send all the relevant information to the Land and Surveys Department in order to obtain a title deed with or without notes or with prohibition of transfer and burden.

It should be noted that the updated title deeds are issued in the name of the original owner, and not in the name of the purchasers. The Authorities involved in the procedure do not have the power to transfer property rights to purchasers, without the owner´s consent. However, it is of crucial importance, that separate title deeds are issued for individual units of a larger development, as this facilitates significantly the purchaser to invoke the right of specific performance of the contract of sale, through action taken in the Courts, against the vendor. The transfer of property to purchasers is performed by the registered owner, either voluntarily, or by an Order of the Court, issued at the request of the purchaser.

Legalization of Irregularities (prior to issue of title deed)

If a purchaser wishes to legalize any irregularities, he/she must submit to the ministry of interior a 2-page Statement of Intent the latest by 7.10.2011. The said Statement contains general information that is necessary so as to ensure that the irregularities existed on April 8, 2011, and is attested by an affidavit provided by a qualified person, member of the Scientific and Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK).

It is strongly recommended that each owner to submit the said notice prior to the above deadline, even if at this stage he/she is not certain whether the irregularities satisfy the conditions of the Planning Amnesty Amendments. The said statement is the KEY for an owner/purchaser to proceed later on with an application to legalize the irregularities (this does not apply to persons submitting, directly, an application for planning permit (instead of a statement of intent) to the Planning Authority until October 7, 2011, or those who have already submitted an application to the Building Authority for a certificate of approval and have not yet been informed of the Authority’s decision).

The Planning Amnesty Amendments enable the legalization of only specific type, nature, scale and significance irregularities on existing buildings under certain conditions, the most important of which is the existence of a relevant planning permit and/ or building permit for the development, even if the planning permit and/ or building permit have expired.

The scale and significance of the irregularities that can be legalised are defined by the provisions of the law. Not any irregularity, irrespective of its scale, can be legalised. In cases of irregularities of a very severe nature, the Building Authority is empowered to issue a certificate of unauthorized works, requiring the Department of Lands and Surveys to register a note on the title, prohibiting the transfer of the property to another person.

For example the provisions of the law can apply where there is an increase of the approved plot ratio (of the building or the individual unit) up to 30% of the approved covered area, of which only 10% could be allocated outside the approved shell of the building, differences in the approved general layout of the development etc. In such cases compensation levy will be imposed on the owner or purchaser, which will be equivalent to the market value of the area in excess. These values will be determined on the basis of general estimates carried out by the Department of Land and Surveys, which will be published by an Order of the Minister of the Interior. A 20% discount on the compensation levy is set for all applications submitted within the first year period, and a 10% discount for applications submitted within the second year of the implementation of the provisions of the law.

http://www.pirilides.com/en/cyprus/practices/property-law/10 - Cyprus Property Law

Марина Лимассола – это крупнейший инвестиционный элитный прибережный проект, призванный в корне  преобразить туристическую индустрию Кипра.

Общая площадь комплекса составит 170 тысяч квадратных метров. На территории в скором будущем будут расположены  188 апартаментов и 86 вилл.

В рамках  проекта будут созданы насыпные острова, на которых разместится часть элитных построек. Примерная стоимость данного проекта составит 350 млн евро.

Морской  яхтенный  порт  сможет предоставить  стоянку для яхт любого типа: от парусных  до мега-яхт, длиной от 8 до 100 метров. Более того, в гавани  будут располагаться: сухой док, мастерские для ремонта и технического обслуживания  легких судов, а также топливозаправочные комплексы.  Каждый причал будет иметь  индивидуальные запасы питьевой воды и электричества, кабельное телевидение, телефон, WI-FI, а также высокоскоростной доступ в интернет.

Ожидается, что данный проект модернизирует  морской туризм, обогатит кипрский туристический продукт, а также откроет новые перспективы для острова.

По словам Министра торговли, промышленности и туризма Республики Кипр, Антониса Пасхалидиса, марина г. Лимассол является уникальным  инновационным проектом и представляет собой настоящее украшение как для города, так и для всего острова.  ‘Наша цель – превратить морской туризм в ключевой фактор развития туристической индустрии острова,  так как  тысячи посетителей получат уникальный опыт, благодаря преимуществам, которые так любезно предоставляет нам наше море.’ – сказал г-н Пасхалидес.

 Дизайн комплекса марины позволяет гармонично сочетаться с районом старого города, старинным портом и средневековым замком, украшающими близлежащий центр города Лимассола. Марине предназначено стать самым элитным морским курортом в Восточном Средиземноморье и одним из лучших в мире.

http://www.pirilides.com/ru

The project for the implementation of the new Ayia Napa Marina is expected to start in approximately 1-2 years from today. Soon, the consortium which has won the contest for the construction of the project, will engage into discussions with the Government of Cyprus for the signing of the final agreements. Upon signing of these agreements, the plans will have to be deposited which will demonstrate exactly what developments will be included in the Project i.e. yacht berths, construction of villas, houses and other buildings such as restaurants, etc.

Bank guarantees will be required by the Government so that the government can secure the fact that that companies which will undertake to implement the project have the necessary liquidity. As stated by the Mayor of Ayia Napa, ‘the Ayia Napa marina will positively affect this part of Cyprus and that Cyprus will be positively affected and will enjoy multiple benefits since the project will optimize the economic life of the Famagusta area, since new job positions will be opened and will be available and tourism development will be further enhanced’.

Another important project for the area of Ayia Napa is the creation of the Ayia Napa Forest Golf, planned to be implemented in the northern eastern part of Ayia Napa. The Golf course will not however contain a residential area.  This project will stretch in 430 acres of land.  The piece of land has been granted by the government for this development.

The project is expected to finish in 1-2 years approximately. The fact that there is not going to be any residential development of the land, means that the area will be wholly reserved and used for sports and also, time-consuming procedures for approval of planning permits and other bureaucratic procedures are automatically overcome. In the golf course, there will only be some cafeterias, and probably changing rooms for the athletes.

http://www.multilysis.com/